Mitchell Kernels: Championship Season

In this Season Recap, PHD is looking at the South Dakota AA State Champions, the Mitchell Kernels!!   Ryker Kreutzfeldt and his Kernels finished the season with 23 wins and the AA Crown. It certainly was a historic season for the Mitchell community, the Kernels made memories that will last a lifetime!   Expect Mitchell to be tough again this coming year. They bring back a large amount of talent, have some young intriguing ballers, and Kreutzfeldt is one of the top up-and-coming coaches in South Dakota. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves......We have to take a look back at the Championship season.   See below for the Kernels stat leaders, player comments, and an in-depth Q&A session with Ryker Kreutzfeldt.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/kernals-crop-1125x739-1716673022.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/kernals-crop-1125x739-1716673022.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2448269" style="width:325px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Team: Mitchell   Mascot: Kernel   Head Coach: Ryker Kreutzfeldt   Class: AA   Record: 23-1   Finish: State Champions   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1842251" style="width:248px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Stat Leaders   [player_tooltip player_id='1466940' first='Colton' last='Smith'] - 17.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.1 apg, 52.2 FG%, 55.4 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley'] - 17.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, 49 FG%, 54 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='1373691' first='Gavin' last='Soukup'] - 11.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3 apg, 43.2 FG%, 51.6 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='2310403' first='Gavin' last='Hinker'] - 5.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg, .7 apg, 68.9 FG%   [player_tooltip player_id='2344092' first='Parker' last='Mandel'] - 4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, .9 apg, 50 FG%, 57.1 eFG%   [player_tooltip player_id='2344089' first='Landen' last='Soulek'] - 3.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.3 apg, 29.8 FG%, 37.5 3FG%   [player_tooltip player_id='1503839' first='Sutton' last='Thompson'] - 2.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, .8 apg, 34 FG%, 39.4 eFG%   Player Comments from Coach Ryker Kreutzfeldt   [player_tooltip player_id='1466940' first='Colton' last='Smith'] (2026) |6'5 F|   "He made huge jumps in every statistical category. Spent a majority of his time offensively playing as a guard on the perimeter but would also go inside when matchups dictated so. Improved jump shot and free throw %, was a threat from the 3pt line this year. All-ESD, All-State, All-Tournament."   [player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley'] (2025) |6'2 G|   "On the shortlist for best players in the state. Controls the game on both ends, guards the best perimeter player, and had a great majority of our offense ran through him. Uber-skilled. Impossible to guard 1v1. All-ESD, All-State, All-Tournament."   [player_tooltip player_id='1373691' first='Gavin' last='Soukup'] (2024) |6'3 G|   "Ended his career playing his best basketball. Was our leading scorer in the State Tournament. Made a huge leap on both ends from his Junior to Senior year. Was impossible to take off of the court. All-ESD, All-State, All-Tournament, All-State Academic."   [player_tooltip player_id='2310403' first='Gavin' last='Hinker'] (2025) |6'4 F|   "Filled the role of 4th scoring punch, had a huge State Tournament, multiple dunks. Established himself as a post presence who can score 1v1 if no help is given."   Q&A with Coach Kreutzfeldt   PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?   "Obviously, winning that last game of the year is special. However, the growth we had throughout the year is what made that possible. We needed all of our guys to take big steps forward for us to contend for a Championship and they did that!"   PHD: Do you have any fun memories you want to share with us?   "This was a very entertaining group. There was never a dull moment with this crew. Off the court, I'll never forget looking to the back of the bus on the way home from O'Gorman and see that our guys were singing karaoke. On the floor, obviously, the State Tournament will be something we always remember but it felt like the win over DeLaSalle in December was a big turning point for us."   PHD: How did your team overcome adversity?   "You wouldn't think there is a ton of adversity in a 1 loss season but there always is. I was very impressed with how they always put the team first and really bought into We > Me."   PHD: What are a few things your team improved on throughout the season?   "Our "rookies" got a lot better through the year. [player_tooltip player_id='2310403' first='Gavin' last='Hinker'], [player_tooltip player_id='2344089' first='Landen' last='Soulek'], [player_tooltip player_id='1503839' first='Sutton' last='Thompson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2344092' first='Parker' last='Mandel'] all began the year with no varsity experience. By the end of the year, they were all very reliable options for us."   PHD: Who are some role players that stood out to you?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2310403' first='Gavin' last='Hinker'] - Strong post presence who got us a lot of extra possessions in the tournament with his offensive rebounding."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2344089' first='Landen' last='Soulek'] - Very reliable defensively, did a great job of being aggressive when opportunities presented themselves."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1503839' first='Sutton' last='Thompson'] - Team first guy who does the dirty work. Offensive and defensive rebounds, takes charges, gets on the floor, knows his role."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2344092' first='Parker' last='Mandel'] - Smart player who has a high basketball IQ, long and athletic, able to make plays off the bounce, and is a threat from the 3pt line."   PHD: Can you talk about your seniors?   "All 3 of our seniors ([player_tooltip player_id='1373691' first='Gavin' last='Soukup'], Nic Moller, Abe Gunnare) made significant contributions to our team this year all in different ways. We are going to miss the leadership and dedication they had to the program."   PHD: Who are some up-and-comers to look out for in the future?   "We think we have some good crews coming up."   "Sophs - [player_tooltip player_id='2080295' first='Luke' last='LeBrun'], [player_tooltip player_id='2344013' first='Jaxson' last='Hartman'], [player_tooltip player_id='2340685' first='Kendan' last='Skinner'], [player_tooltip player_id='2340684' first='Tyler' last='Christensen']"   "Fresh - [player_tooltip player_id='2132568' first='Lincoln' last='Bottum'], [player_tooltip player_id='2250346' first='Owen' last='Raml'], [player_tooltip player_id='2250315' first='Collin' last='Weier']"   "8th - [player_tooltip player_id='2344233' first='Owen' last='Schelske']"   PHD: Who was your best defensive player?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley']. Markus has the ability to make a team's best player a non-factor in the game. Markus gets a lot of attention for what he does offensively, but I believe he is the best perimeter defender in the State. His instincts, quickness, and strength are top-notch, and he really buys into that side of the floor."   PHD: Any last comments/thoughts on the season?   "This team will go down in history as the team that kicked that last door down in the rebuild of Kernel Basketball. However, we don't want it to be lost that none of this is possible without the kids who came before them and paved the way. We are so thankful for the kids we have had over the last 7 years who have brought this program from the bottom of AA to the Champions of AA."   Best of luck to the Kernels this offseason!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Mitchellchampions-crop-3880x2548-1716643945.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/05/Mitchellchampions-crop-3880x2548-1716643945.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2448093" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Kernels Basketball</figcaption></figure>

In this Season Recap, PHD is looking at the South Dakota AA State Champions, the Mitchell Kernels!!